English and Media Studies
English
All students study English and English Literature at both Key Stages. In addition they study Media as part of their Key Stage Three English lessons and have the option of Media Studies at Key Stage Four. Throughout Key Stage three, students study a wide variety of literature and genres from different ages and are encouraged to read widely and frequently following the Bronze, Silver and Gold Reading records. At Key stage Four students are given wider reading lists and are expected to read a minimum of three books, some classic and some modern. In order to support this, the English Department arranges a biennial Book Week where authors and poets are invited in to discuss their work. Students raise money for this event with sponsored reading. We also value Speaking and Listening and organise a school “Speech Competition”; an event all students participate in.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)
Students are taught in mixed ability classes; in years seven and eight, in their form groups, in year nine they are taught in new mixed ability groups.
Every year, all groups study at least one prose text, drama text and poetry collection. They study modern texts and some pre 1914 texts; in particular, Shakespeare. There is one media unit studied in each year.
Students complete at least two key assessments per term in Speaking and Listening, Reading or Writing and their levels of achievement help inform their teacher-assessed levels on their reports. From year 8, students are given exam practices for their SATs.
Writing tasks follow the requirements for the SATs and students are given opportunities to improve their skills in writing descriptive, informative, explanatory, discursive, persuasive, instructive texts.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
Students are taught in broadly banded groups at Key Stage Four (some groups range from A* - C, others from C – G). Students are placed in groups according to their Teacher Assessments in year nine and reviewed in the light of SATs results.
We follow the AQA GCSE in both English and Literature and all groups follow the same basic course whatever the ability range of the group. Students are only entered for the Higher or Foundation Paper in January of their final year, following mock examinations in December.
During Year Ten the main focus of the course is to complete the majority of the coursework (40% of English grade, 30% of Literature grade) with some preparation for the year 10 examinations. In Year 11 the focus is on the prose text and poetry set in the exams and on examination practice.
Media
Media Studies at Teddington School encourages students to explore a wide variety of media: advertising, film, the press, TV scheduling and popular TV programmes. Students analyse the way media messages are constructed and work on producing media products of their own such as storyboards, treatments, news articles, advertisements. Where possible, students are encouraged to use ICT in their practical work.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)
Media Studies is taught through English at Key Stage Three. During each academic year students will complete at least one Media Unit. For further details please refer to the course outline for English.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
Media Studies is taught as an option at Key Stage Four. We follow the AQA syllabus: the students’ coursework contributes to 50% of their final grade and the remaining 50% is determined by the final examination.
The course requires students to study a variety of Media: currently sitcom, advertising, the music press, the horror film genre. Their coursework is a balance of written and practical work, the written work underlining their understanding of the institutions, constructs and conventions of each medium while the practical allows them to demonstrate their understanding more creatively. During the course, students will be expected to experiment with still and moving images, produce their own webpages and print media.
